Five shows. Really only two were in contention for the top spot.

1) Undone (Amazon)

English Audio Description Available?: Yes

Well, I think that’s a series wrap. I hadn’t heard anything official about Undone being a two season show, but that felt like a series finale and not a season finale. Considering the entire series was wrapped up in a nice bow, I don’t know what a third season would conceptually even be. But, this final half hour really took everything it had ever built to, threw it in your face, and demanded that you love it. It was great. bold choices, and ultimately a show that there has never been anything like it before, and unlikely that there ever will be again.

Episode Grade: A, Series Grade: A

2) Candy (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Truthfully, in the final hour, I was most engaged by the dynamic between the defense attorney and the judge, who probably shouldn’t put out a gag order then be confused when someone violates it… because the judge violated his own gag order. The hell? Anyway, this show walked a very fine line since the results of this court case, and the fact that Candy is out there somewhere, leave them to follow the facts, and let you make up your own mind. There’s no suggestion of what might have really happened, but rather just a rather gory and brutal presentation of candy’s account. gory. The audio description suggested this was quite gory indeed. Possibly a career best performance from Jessica Biel.

Episode Grade: A, Series Grade: A

3)The last Movie Stars (HBo MAX)

English Audio Description? Yes

Ethan Hawke’s continued deep dive into Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is reminding me a bit of the possibility that The Last Movie Stars could overstay its welcome. Sometimes, when these streamers offer documentarians the chance to do a series over a movie, we get a really stretched out product for no other reason other than time. That maybe feels a little true here, but not nearly as much as that DB Cooper thing that just kept going in circles. Hawke could have followed Amy Poehler’s route and gone with a documentary like lucy and Desi, but he went series, and he needs to make the viewer feel like every moment is absolutely necessary.

Episode Grade: B+

4) Pistol (Hulu)

English Audio Description?: No

One of those shows that I still watch because the source material is interesting to me, but the lack of audio description still makes this a challenge. This was the Sid and Nancy episode, but was as much that as it explored the Sex Pistols internal strife and well as their attempt to get a song played on British radio that is popular without ever getting spins.

Episode Grade: B

5) Virgin River (Netflix)

English Audio Description?: Yes

Look.. we know what we got ourselves into here. This is the 4th season of Virgin River, and I know I signed up for one of the worst written shows on television. I know that. Like, these kids are cutting their teeth before they move on to write for Hallmark. I cannot abide by everything though. The cheesy way Episode 3 began and ended with these oddly shot sex scenes, that must be so uncomfortable for these actors to film. And in a sea of questionable actors, this new doctor is giving the rest of the cast a run for their money. Guilty pleasure? Yes, i feel very guilty sometimes. but sometimes, they introduce plot points that are interesting… like who paid Brady’s bail? What’s up with the grandson? How did Jack’s phone know to call his mother that quickly without him needing to do anything with it? Is it sentient? Did it read his mind? Questions.

Episode Grade: B- (Really, grading Virgin River is like on its own scale).